Equity in the Academy: Launching THRIVE@ECU

Change Culture. Build Support. Remove Barriers.

THRIVE@ECU launches campus-wide with a semester packed with learning opportunities! Please download our Spring 2021 Calendar. 

THRIVE@ECU addresses biases entrenched in faculty recruitment, hiring, and advancement. By implementing evidence-based strategies, THRIVE will change the institutional culture, build support systems, and change institutional structures to remove barriers and increase accountability. These efforts will empower all ECU women to reach their highest potential and thrive. 

The semester started with a leadership retreat for administrators and directors that brought in guest speaker Dr. Menah Pratt-Clarke, Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity at Virginia Tech.  This was followed by an introduction at the Brody School of Medicine Full Faculty Meeting in February. 

We are excited for our upcoming, campus-wide launch on March 9th featuring guest speaker Dr. Beth Mitchneck, former NSF ADVANCE program officer & Professor Emerita, University of Arizona.  Dr. Mitchneck will address Gender Equity in the Academy – ECU Style (Register Here).  We hope the event provides broader context for the NSF ADVANCE program – celebrating 20 years in March.  

On *new date March 25th*, we are offering a screening of Picture a Scientist followed by a STEMinism panel.  The film chronicles the journey of three women scientists, shining the light on what it is like to be a woman in STEM.  The socially distanced event will be held from 4-7pm outside on the Main Campus Student Center Lawn (download Program Flyer).  Register for the film and panel on ENGAGE. Masks required and bring a blanket for the lawn! Following the film and panel, we are offering two roundtables to further the discussion: Women in STEM on March 24th (Register Here) and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Faculty in STEM on April 15th (Register Here).  

(Trailer for Picture a Scientist)

Kicking off our Advocates and Allies program, we are offering two sessions of Men Allies for Gender Equity on March 19th.  This two-hour interactive workshop encourages and equips men to serve as effective allies for gender equity in academic settings.  For more information, please see the flyer and register HERE (10-12pm) or HERE (1-3pm).  

Last, we are ecstatic to announce our new physical location – Bloxton House! Please join us in May for a champagne and cider toast to celebrate.  

Bloxton House for campus map. (ECU Photo by Cliff Hollis)